8th ABU Robot Contest 2009 Tokyo (Script for PTV/NUST Team)
Copyrights @ Amer Rizwan
The glittering transparent waters of pristine lakes and rivers, lush green fertile slopes and plains, towering peaks, scintillating panorama, and the resulting aura of mystery make this land a beautiful mosaic of all the colours of rainbow. The exotic natural beauty is so captivating and enthralling that it leaves one spell bound. The versatile flora and fauna and rich culture and traditional festivals make the future of this nation really promising. Keeping in line with the spirit of the land, people of the country are lively, energetic and art-loving. The land is cradle to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. Gandhara art and Buddhism are the most important components of this tradition. The inhabitants of the land are rough and tough with a strong belief in their capabilities and a firm commitment to their purpose of making the nation even greater. The northern areas of the country can rightly boast of being one of the most beautiful places on earth. It is here that the second highest peak of the world K2 commands the admiration and awe from the tourists and locals alike. Here is a wonderful opportunity to observe the rich culture and tradition of the land, particularly during the seasons of fairs and festivals – the dances and songs of the people of the land can easily enliven the dull spirits. Shandur Polo Festival is one of the oldest sporting events that greet fans with its cultural hospitality and excite them with the thrilling moments of Polo matches. Shandur hosts thousands of spectators from inland and abroad on the world’s highest Polo ground each year in the month of July. The backdrop of Hindukush range, hospitality, scenic views, folk dances and some thrilling wild-Polo matches – different from the regular polo – on the world’s highest Polo ground is what makes it a thing apart.
This is Pakistan – Having emerged on 14 August 1947 as an independent state on the world map, the land is full of these spell-bound beauties and infinite opportunities. This green, beautiful and modern capital of the country Islamabad itself is one of the signs of the greatness that future has in store for this nation.
College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME) Rawalpindi is a constituent college of the National University of Science and Technology or NUST.
Pakistan Navy Engineering College Karachi was another participating team. The team did undergo a lot of preparatory work ahead of the exercise. The team members held preparatory sessions to come up with something original. They used all the three robots – manual, kago, and digital – on the experimental basis. However, the team could not get through in the preliminary competition. The team did undergo a lot of preparatory work ahead of the exercise. The team members held preparatory sessions to come up with something original. They used all the three robots – manual, kago, and digital – on the experimental basis. However, the team could not get through in the preliminary competition.
NED University of Science and Technology Karachi was the third participating team. The team members worked meticulously focusing on each and every detail of the robot making process. They did hold experimental demonstrations of all the three robots. Unfortunately in the preliminary competition their scheme could not work properly, so the team could not qualify for the 8th ABU Contest 2009 to be held at Tokyo.
Teams from all the three institutions participated in the contest with positive frames of mind yet in the final show it was EME College Rawalpindi which carried the day. The constituent college i.e. EME offers study and research facilities in the disciplines of Electrical, Mechanical, Computer and Mechatronics Engineering. The laboratories are highly equipped with state of the art tools to help the researchers and engineers carry out research in various fields of engineering. Participating in the first ABU Robot Contest 2002 Tokyo, the college won a special Toyota award.
Ahead of the competition, members of the participating team held marathon sessions and debates and held in-depth study to start working on the project with resourcefulness. Their brainstorming and interactive sessions proved instrumental in enabling them to come up with an original and successful scheme.
This year the theme of the contest is ‘Travel together for the victory drums’. The theme is in fact a game based on an imaginary journey of olden days using this Kago Palanquin. An automatic robot in the front and a manual robot in the rear shall cooperate to carry an automatic Traveller robot in a Kago to the goal with the aim of completing the journey before the other team. Various tasks stand in the way, including a Mountain Pass and Woods. The Kago and Traveller Robot must not be dropped. The Traveller Robot must beat the three Victory Drums when it reaches the Goal Zone. The three traditional Japanese drums are arranged vertically on a platform. The team that beats all three drums first is the winner.
The preparatory work was not easy. The winning team used computer graphics and simulation to get help from. The team has had a series of deliberation and discussion sessions using white boards and other aides. The team members put their heads together to come up with something original and competitive. Each one of them contributed with new ideas. It required close concentration and singular dedication. Besides, ingenuity, the scheme required technical skills on the part of the members to work both as individuals as well as a group. Each one of the members took upon himself a specific assignment related to the main project to accomplish. Basically the team was self reliant in preparing the robot because they designed and made the parts themselves. Before putting the robots in the contest, all the robots – manual, digital and drum-beater/Kago – were properly tested. It was ensured that the automatic robot in the front and a manual robot in the rear cooperate to carry the automatic Traveller robot in a Kago to the goal and to complete the journey quickly. In order to eliminate the margin of error, the scheme was tried again and again. Team members were alive to the fact that in the final competition, the team that beats all three three drums first would be the winner.
Comments Syed Ghayur AhmadTeam Member
I am Syed Ghayur Ahmad, team member and manual operator of Robocon. I’ll operate this robot. In the beginning let me introduce the basic structure. Advantage of using this basic structure is that it is a ‘V’ shape apparatus designed especially to cover mountain passes. Its basic advantage is that when this structural robot will be pushing it from the rear, the front part of the structure would oppose that component and thus force thus applied, thereby making its movement stable and securing it from overturning. It would drive through this chain. You can see we have used chains – four by four. Again its biggest advantage would be that it would facilitate in the process of climbing the mountains. Now let me tell you something about the slider mechanism that we have designed to be placed on the structure. It can be moved in the linear direction; it has a rotator as well, and then again it can be moved in the linear direction. Its advantage is that when the manual robot from the rear would rotate or use its force in opposite direction, then it will automatically adjust itself accordingly.
The slider mechanism was fixed in the machine workshop of the college. It contains three sticks to beat the three respective target drums.
Comments by Khalid Ahmad Team Member
The main brain of our robot is this micro-control board. We have used Pick 18F 4520. In the board, we have 13 ADC Channels, and 2 PWM cc modules which are used for motor drive. Our basic requirement was to take direct input from censors through our Controller/APCs and to manipulate them digitally. Basic reason for scheme is that our game field has multi colours which if manipulated through analogue would be problematic. The digital scheme has given our APCs a great edge. Now we can generate automatic referencing through programming.
Micro-control board that has ADC channels and modules help the motor to drive the machine. It has been designed and prepared by the team members.
Comments Umar Ilyas I am Umar Ilyas.
I am Robocon’s Team leader. I’ll share with you something about the mechanical structure of the tableau robot. This is our tableau robot with a square base. We have used tyres here which have a tighter grip so that it may keep itself stable on the Kago up to 20 degree and don’t get slipped. We have used high-speed motors in it so that it can complete its task with speed. Besides we have made an extension mechanism that is single activator to beat drum in the height. It implies that we have made and would run the entire extension with a single motor. After its extension, every stick would stop in front of its target drum. We have also set up a rotating mechanism with the structure which will rotate all the three drums with a single push.
The Robots were properly tested ahead of the competition. It was only after repeated trials that the final scheme for participation was approved. In one of the phases of the testing process, it was revealed that the rods on the Kago did not function properly, particularly when it had to pass mountain passes. As a result, its designing and scheme were re-adjusted and improved upon in order to make it work properly. Copyrights @ Amer Rizwan
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
'World Bank Mediation on Baglihar' Implications for India-Pakistan Relations (ABSTRACT)
'World Bank Mediation on Baglihar' Implications for India-Pakistan Relations (ABSTRACT) (Appeared in IPRI JOURNAL SUMMER 2008. ISLAMABAD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE. ISALAMBAD. PAKISTAN
Owing to a number of factors, water resources have become dearer in South Asia and elsewhere so much so that the analysts consider water to be the potential source of conflict between Pakistan and India. So far the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 has been successfully regulating the water affairs between these two countries. However, Pakistan perceives the construction of a number of hydroelectric projects by India on the rivers given exclusively to Pakistan by the Indus Waters Treaty as not only a violation of terms of the Treaty itself, but also as a lever to India in its any future conflict with its western neighbour. Contrary to some other cases, bilateralism and Joint Indus Commission failed to deliver on Baglihar Hydroelectric Project being constructed by India on river Chenab in the Indian Occupied Kashmir with the result that the World Bank had to appoint, on the request made by Pakistan, a Neutral Expert to assess the respective positions of the parties. The ensuing verdict by the Neutral Expert, and the initial reaction of Pakistan and India to the verdict, has a number of ramifications, not only for India-Pakistan relations, but also for the region in general. Besides, the successful determination by a third party on in India-Pakistan issue has much in store for the policy makers of both the countries in so far as the resolution of their longstanding disputes are concerned.
VIEW FULL ARTICLE??
Click on the following and you will find the concerned IPRI Journal.
ipripak.org/journal/summer2008/articles.pdf
Owing to a number of factors, water resources have become dearer in South Asia and elsewhere so much so that the analysts consider water to be the potential source of conflict between Pakistan and India. So far the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 has been successfully regulating the water affairs between these two countries. However, Pakistan perceives the construction of a number of hydroelectric projects by India on the rivers given exclusively to Pakistan by the Indus Waters Treaty as not only a violation of terms of the Treaty itself, but also as a lever to India in its any future conflict with its western neighbour. Contrary to some other cases, bilateralism and Joint Indus Commission failed to deliver on Baglihar Hydroelectric Project being constructed by India on river Chenab in the Indian Occupied Kashmir with the result that the World Bank had to appoint, on the request made by Pakistan, a Neutral Expert to assess the respective positions of the parties. The ensuing verdict by the Neutral Expert, and the initial reaction of Pakistan and India to the verdict, has a number of ramifications, not only for India-Pakistan relations, but also for the region in general. Besides, the successful determination by a third party on in India-Pakistan issue has much in store for the policy makers of both the countries in so far as the resolution of their longstanding disputes are concerned.
VIEW FULL ARTICLE??
Click on the following and you will find the concerned IPRI Journal.
ipripak.org/journal/summer2008/articles.pdf
Getting Rid of the Killer Bags
We, all the species of life are the collective owners and stake-holders of this mother planet. We are at risk of creating a world that is fast converting into an inhospitable place to host living beings. The responsibility of not stretching its resources too far lies squarely on the shoulders of each one of us. We have to put in our best in order to bequeath a livable home to the succeeding generations. Plastic shopping bags are not biodegradable because they do not decompose fully whereas paper bags are reusable and biodegradable. In Pakistan, the use of plastic shopping bags is rampant much to the detriment of the ecological poise. However some of the supermarkets use paper that has never been recycled before and they always say "recyclable" not "recycled". This is precisely the message that we are trying to disseminate. Our friends and activists roam about in the markets and meet both the vendors as well the as the buyers, apprising them of the hazardous effects of using the plastic shopping bags. As a result of this restless campaign, most of the buyers are now convinced that they need not use any bag at all if the purchase is small; this alone could save hundreds of millions of bags. Most of the concerned members of the civil society have now started using their own reusable cloth bags or string bags when they intend to buy more things.
The positive response both from the sellers as well as the buyers promise more success if the circumference of the operation is enlarged. Subject to availability of time, resources and manpower, we are planning the things just in this very direction.
The positive response both from the sellers as well as the buyers promise more success if the circumference of the operation is enlarged. Subject to availability of time, resources and manpower, we are planning the things just in this very direction.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
DENMENTIA INTERVIEWS (Translation from Urdu and Punjabi)
Copyrights reserved @amerrizwan
INTERVIEW BY DR RASHIDA TABASSUM
You have seen as to how worried the family has been about the happenings around. Let me tell you something on this count. All of us may forget something occasionally. But when this forgetfulness becomes a regular feature and intense then we have to think about its causes. Let me share with you some of the other causes of forgetfulness. If you are disappointed, anxious or if you are suffering from physical ailment like urine or chest infection or lungs problem or if you drink excessively then all these factors can adversely affect your memory. Head injury may also contribute to this problem. There are a number of factors which can be held responsible for affecting your memory. Nonetheless if you start forgetting things too much then there must be something wrong. It does not mean, however that you have been afflicted with any mental disease. So you must not be shy of sharing it with other family members. If an individual start forgetting the things in daily routine life too often then we call this disease as ‘Dementia’. Some of its symptoms are to lose daily-use things or to leave them somewhere and then worry as to where they are. Its patient may repeat the same thing again and again. The problem may effect a personality change in the individual; a person may become irritable out of it or may not take proper care of his own self; he forgets to take his meals in time; he does not know as to where he is, or what the time or date is. At times he may forget the names of his kiths and kens which may cause serious trouble.
The person suffering from the disease may not exactly know as to what he is up to, and that he is forgetting things too frequently. But the people around do know that he is suffering from forgetfulness. So the foremost requirement is to understand and appreciate the exact symptoms of the disease. In the extreme case, the patients start visualizing things and faces which are not seen by normal people. They may fantasize and talk to the nears and dears already passed away. Then the disease may heighten the distrustfulness and cynicism in the patient; the patient may drop something, forgets it and then apprehends that it has been stolen by someone else. At times, in the severe cases, the patient can move but with much difficulty; he cannot attend toilets on his own nor, can he recognize, and be confused about familiar people He is almost dependent on his family members for his day-to-day needs.
Now let me tell you that there are a number of forms of dementia. One of them is known is Alzheimer’s Dementia which is commonly found among the white. 5 percent of the people above 65 years of age suffer from dementia, and the percentage increases as the age grows. The percentage may well soar to 20 percent in the people above 80. The second form of dementia is known is vascular dementia which prevails among the Asians. Vascular dementia means that the brain receives abridged supply of blood which may in turn be caused by diabetics, high blood pressure, taking tranquilizers, lack of exercise, obesity, excessive smoking and paralytic strokes. All these factors increase the possibility of dementia being afflicted. So the foremost imperative is to appreciate these symptoms and to know as to wherefrom can the succor be found. We will tell you something about such places of succor later. So please seek help in time so that it may not get out of control. Different centers may cater for different categories of dementia patients. So the foremost imperative for you is to appreciate the symptoms of your patient and take him to the proper place.
INTERVIEW BY DR IFTIKHAR AHMAD
You need not to worry if you are suffering from forgetfulness or related problems; just consult your GP. He will thoroughly examine you and will investigate the case on the bases of the results of your urine and blood tests. Your GP may refer you to a psychiatrist as well. Initially he will carry out your detailed physical and psychological examination; he may also advice a brain-scan besides getting some more blood and urine tests. These investigations would help trace the causes owing to which you suffer from these problems. Medicines are also available for the people suffering from dementia which may prove quite helpful. Moreover Social Services Department may also provide various facilities to the people affected by dementia which also include day care and daytime meal facility. If one lives all alone or if it is hard for him to live alone, then the Social Services Department may arrange for him a substitute abode as well which may include Residential Care, Nursing Home and other similar facilities. Voluntary sector associations such as Alzheimer’s Society and Age Concern may also offer very useful consultancy to the patients suffering from dementia which may help them dealing with the related problems effectively.
INTERVIEW BY DR SAMINA AZEEM
Dementia is a disease that affects people above the 65 years of age. As the age grows, the chances of its afflicting the patients increase. The percentage may well soar to 20 percent in the people above 80. You may well understand that it is directly proportional to the increase in the age of the individuals. In the outset, let me tell you as to how can we recognize this disease. Initially the patient or his family members may observe that his or her memory is not that good as it used to be. It starts with forgetting very small things; for instance forgetting the names of persons and things, forgetting to take the keys and locking the house. Later on with the passage of time, it may reach a stage when the affected individual losing his way back home. A further increase in the disease would make the individual recalling the events of his childhood. However, he is in no position to tell you as to what has happened just two minutes ago. At this stage people usually contact the doctor. Why does dementia occur? It can have a number of causes. The very primary form of dementia known as Alzheimer’s dementia is a hereditary disease. This disease is not very common among us ( the Asians); the disease that is common prevails among us is known as Vascular Dementia which can be caused by a large number of factors. High Blood Pressure, diabetics, excessive smoking or drinking, high cholesterol level, your daily life habits e.g. lack of exercise, taking too mush fats in your diet, obesity etc are some of the factors responsible for reducing the blood supply/flow to your brain. And as soon as the supply of blood reduces, the chances of receiving paralytic attacks increase. Paralytic attacks are not always major; they may be minor as well in that they may last for a two or three seconds as well. However, in the wake of each and every stroke, the memory of the individual is further depleted. It is really hard to prevent Alzheimer’s Dementia, but Vascular Dementia can be limited in the sense that we can abstain from the factors causing it. Dementia is sometime caused by certain physical problems like anxiety, depression, thyroid glands disorders; we can treat such form of dementia. There is proper treatment available for it and it can be cured.
INTERVIEW BY DR NARINDAR SAHOTA
You need not to worry if you think you may be developing dementia, or that someone you know may be affected; it's best to see your GP in case you are worried about your memory. He may do your urine and blood tests to rule out other conditions. That will help him investigating the case. Subject to the outcome of the tests, your GP will find ways and means of treating that disease. You will either have medical problem or mental problem, but it is not to be worried about. However, if there is any related disease then you will be referred to any specialist doctor, neurologist, or psychiatrist for the old age people or any Psychologist. In UK all the major places have the facilities of psychologists for the elderly people. There are enough facilities, support and memory clinics for people above 65 who are suffering from forgetfulness. In order to further investigate the problem, these clinics may take more urine and blood tests and even may suggest a brain scan. If the patient is reluctant to visit the Doctor then a doctor or psychologist may be invited to his home as well. There are a number of medicines that can help control the disease. Social Services Department may also help and take measures for taking care of the Dementia patients. Such patients can get help in their own homes. ‘Home Health’, ‘Meals-on-Wheels’ may provide meals and day care facilities to them in their own homes. However, if dementia patients cannot live in their homes independently, then they can live in nursing homes or residential shelters. Social Security assists those who are disable and cannot live in their homes. It may also offer you very useful pieces of advice regarding hiring any counsel to take care of your property. Charity associations like Alzheimer’s Society can also offer support and counseling in this regard.
INTERVIEW BY DR RASHIDA TABASSUM
You have seen as to how worried the family has been about the happenings around. Let me tell you something on this count. All of us may forget something occasionally. But when this forgetfulness becomes a regular feature and intense then we have to think about its causes. Let me share with you some of the other causes of forgetfulness. If you are disappointed, anxious or if you are suffering from physical ailment like urine or chest infection or lungs problem or if you drink excessively then all these factors can adversely affect your memory. Head injury may also contribute to this problem. There are a number of factors which can be held responsible for affecting your memory. Nonetheless if you start forgetting things too much then there must be something wrong. It does not mean, however that you have been afflicted with any mental disease. So you must not be shy of sharing it with other family members. If an individual start forgetting the things in daily routine life too often then we call this disease as ‘Dementia’. Some of its symptoms are to lose daily-use things or to leave them somewhere and then worry as to where they are. Its patient may repeat the same thing again and again. The problem may effect a personality change in the individual; a person may become irritable out of it or may not take proper care of his own self; he forgets to take his meals in time; he does not know as to where he is, or what the time or date is. At times he may forget the names of his kiths and kens which may cause serious trouble.
The person suffering from the disease may not exactly know as to what he is up to, and that he is forgetting things too frequently. But the people around do know that he is suffering from forgetfulness. So the foremost requirement is to understand and appreciate the exact symptoms of the disease. In the extreme case, the patients start visualizing things and faces which are not seen by normal people. They may fantasize and talk to the nears and dears already passed away. Then the disease may heighten the distrustfulness and cynicism in the patient; the patient may drop something, forgets it and then apprehends that it has been stolen by someone else. At times, in the severe cases, the patient can move but with much difficulty; he cannot attend toilets on his own nor, can he recognize, and be confused about familiar people He is almost dependent on his family members for his day-to-day needs.
Now let me tell you that there are a number of forms of dementia. One of them is known is Alzheimer’s Dementia which is commonly found among the white. 5 percent of the people above 65 years of age suffer from dementia, and the percentage increases as the age grows. The percentage may well soar to 20 percent in the people above 80. The second form of dementia is known is vascular dementia which prevails among the Asians. Vascular dementia means that the brain receives abridged supply of blood which may in turn be caused by diabetics, high blood pressure, taking tranquilizers, lack of exercise, obesity, excessive smoking and paralytic strokes. All these factors increase the possibility of dementia being afflicted. So the foremost imperative is to appreciate these symptoms and to know as to wherefrom can the succor be found. We will tell you something about such places of succor later. So please seek help in time so that it may not get out of control. Different centers may cater for different categories of dementia patients. So the foremost imperative for you is to appreciate the symptoms of your patient and take him to the proper place.
INTERVIEW BY DR IFTIKHAR AHMAD
You need not to worry if you are suffering from forgetfulness or related problems; just consult your GP. He will thoroughly examine you and will investigate the case on the bases of the results of your urine and blood tests. Your GP may refer you to a psychiatrist as well. Initially he will carry out your detailed physical and psychological examination; he may also advice a brain-scan besides getting some more blood and urine tests. These investigations would help trace the causes owing to which you suffer from these problems. Medicines are also available for the people suffering from dementia which may prove quite helpful. Moreover Social Services Department may also provide various facilities to the people affected by dementia which also include day care and daytime meal facility. If one lives all alone or if it is hard for him to live alone, then the Social Services Department may arrange for him a substitute abode as well which may include Residential Care, Nursing Home and other similar facilities. Voluntary sector associations such as Alzheimer’s Society and Age Concern may also offer very useful consultancy to the patients suffering from dementia which may help them dealing with the related problems effectively.
INTERVIEW BY DR SAMINA AZEEM
Dementia is a disease that affects people above the 65 years of age. As the age grows, the chances of its afflicting the patients increase. The percentage may well soar to 20 percent in the people above 80. You may well understand that it is directly proportional to the increase in the age of the individuals. In the outset, let me tell you as to how can we recognize this disease. Initially the patient or his family members may observe that his or her memory is not that good as it used to be. It starts with forgetting very small things; for instance forgetting the names of persons and things, forgetting to take the keys and locking the house. Later on with the passage of time, it may reach a stage when the affected individual losing his way back home. A further increase in the disease would make the individual recalling the events of his childhood. However, he is in no position to tell you as to what has happened just two minutes ago. At this stage people usually contact the doctor. Why does dementia occur? It can have a number of causes. The very primary form of dementia known as Alzheimer’s dementia is a hereditary disease. This disease is not very common among us ( the Asians); the disease that is common prevails among us is known as Vascular Dementia which can be caused by a large number of factors. High Blood Pressure, diabetics, excessive smoking or drinking, high cholesterol level, your daily life habits e.g. lack of exercise, taking too mush fats in your diet, obesity etc are some of the factors responsible for reducing the blood supply/flow to your brain. And as soon as the supply of blood reduces, the chances of receiving paralytic attacks increase. Paralytic attacks are not always major; they may be minor as well in that they may last for a two or three seconds as well. However, in the wake of each and every stroke, the memory of the individual is further depleted. It is really hard to prevent Alzheimer’s Dementia, but Vascular Dementia can be limited in the sense that we can abstain from the factors causing it. Dementia is sometime caused by certain physical problems like anxiety, depression, thyroid glands disorders; we can treat such form of dementia. There is proper treatment available for it and it can be cured.
INTERVIEW BY DR NARINDAR SAHOTA
You need not to worry if you think you may be developing dementia, or that someone you know may be affected; it's best to see your GP in case you are worried about your memory. He may do your urine and blood tests to rule out other conditions. That will help him investigating the case. Subject to the outcome of the tests, your GP will find ways and means of treating that disease. You will either have medical problem or mental problem, but it is not to be worried about. However, if there is any related disease then you will be referred to any specialist doctor, neurologist, or psychiatrist for the old age people or any Psychologist. In UK all the major places have the facilities of psychologists for the elderly people. There are enough facilities, support and memory clinics for people above 65 who are suffering from forgetfulness. In order to further investigate the problem, these clinics may take more urine and blood tests and even may suggest a brain scan. If the patient is reluctant to visit the Doctor then a doctor or psychologist may be invited to his home as well. There are a number of medicines that can help control the disease. Social Services Department may also help and take measures for taking care of the Dementia patients. Such patients can get help in their own homes. ‘Home Health’, ‘Meals-on-Wheels’ may provide meals and day care facilities to them in their own homes. However, if dementia patients cannot live in their homes independently, then they can live in nursing homes or residential shelters. Social Security assists those who are disable and cannot live in their homes. It may also offer you very useful pieces of advice regarding hiring any counsel to take care of your property. Charity associations like Alzheimer’s Society can also offer support and counseling in this regard.
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